Singles World Cup – Round One – First Tie

And we’re off!

First round, first tie is:

‘Common People’ by Pulp

The class war won in a single blow from a gangly bloke from Sheffield. The only Britpop anthem to retain weight, it remains as sharply pointed as ever. You may think you wore it out back then, or through years of radio play, but stick it on loud , let yourself go and the charge is still there.

VERSUS

‘Two Tribes’ by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Manufactured pop doesn’t have to be drek. Frankie were a shocking slap in the face, part Paul; Morley’s situationist fantasy, part Trevor Horn’s megaton hi-nrg bomb, all improbable and laudable even without three of the finest, most compelling singles of the last 30 years.